Thermostatic trap



Nov. 8, 1932. F. E. SCHMIDT `l,4886,500

THERMosTATIG TRAP Filed Aug. 7, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 8, 1932.

F. E. SCHMIDT 2 Sheeis-Sheet Filed Aug. '7. 1930 g Patented Nov. 8, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FERDINAND EDWARD SCHMIDT, OF MARSHALLTOWN,IOWA, ASSIGNOB T0 C. A. DUNHAI \COMPANY, OF MIARSHALLTOYTN',` IOWA, ACORPORATION OF IOWA THERHOSTATIC TRAP .Application med August 7, 1930.Serial No. 473,712.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inthermostatic traps, and more particularly to' such traps adapted todrain the condensate'and permit the escape of air from radiatorequipment using steam at relatively high pressures.

Since steam condenses within the radiators it is desirable to permit thecondensate to drain out without permitting the escape of steam from theradiators, and traps are used for this purpose. Thermostaticallyoperating traps are especially valuable in draining high pressureradiator equipment inasmuch as they can release the air or noncondensablegases initially in the radiators before the operation isstarted. This initial release of air promotes the eiciency and economyof the system, and increases the capacity of the apparatus since thetime required to bring the equipment up to the desired temperature isvery materially reduced.

The rate of wear of control equipment handling the condensate fromradiators using steam at vhigh pressures is ordinarily rather high, dueto the cutting of thevalve seats through what is known as wire drawing.Accordingly, easy access to the trap so that parts may be renewed, relaced or readjusted with a minimum of e ort is desirable. Alsointerchangeability of parts in equipment of different sizes, andequipment that can 'be depended upon to operate satisfactorily eventhough a certain tolerance is allowed in the standard dimensions ispractically essential.

According to the present invention, a freely removable assemblycomprising a thermo- 1 moved from the housing when th'e upper covstaticdisk of improved construction, a lower valve, an upper abutment member,and a supporting plateadapted to engage a portion of the housing, may beinstantlyv reer member thereof is taken off. This assembly isself-adjusting within the housing, and selfaligning bearing surfaces areprovided between this assembly and the closure mem,

ber which engage when the valve is forced against the -valve seat by theexpansion of the disk.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improvedthermostatic trap rosive substances and will remain hermeti-l callytight over long periods of time.

`Another object is to provide improved means for adjustably mounting thevalve member on the thermostatic element. y

Another object is to provide improved self-aligning abutment means onthe thermostatic assembly and trap closure respectively.

Another object is to provide lmproved sealing means between the traphousing and closure cap.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent fromthe following detailed description of one approved form of apparatusembodying the principles of this invention. v

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the assembled trap.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 2 2 'ofFig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are central vertical sections respectively through the twocircular flexible plate members used in forming the expansible disks.

Fig. 5 is a partial Vertical section throughv the reinforcing ring' usedto'clamp togetherv to receive a connecting pipe leading from theradiator. A central downwardly extending j nipple houses the outletpassage 6 which is internally threaded at 7 to connect with the drainpipe.

The removable valve seat 8 is threaded at 9 to engage within the -upperend of outlet passage G, and is preferably formed with a hexagonal orother non-circular upper collar 10 to provide a wrench grip in orderthat the seat may be screwed into or out of position. A renewable valvering 11 of suitable resistant material, for example Monel metal, isseated within the main valve seat 8, this ring having a central steampassage 12 and an upper beveled inner edge portion 13 to cooperate withthe conical valve member 14 which may also be formed of Monel metal andwill be described more in detail hereinafter.

The u per end of housing 1 is open and is provided) with a machinedupper surface 14',

the housing being internally threaded adja-v cent the upper end at 15.An annular recess 16 is provided in the upper inner edge portion of thehousing above the threads so as to provide an inwardly andupwardly'projecting sharp edge portion 17 for the purpose hereinafterdescribed.A The circular closure or cap member 18 has an outwardlyprojecting flange 19 machined on its under surface toengage the uppersurface 14 of the housing, and has a downwardly projecting annulariiange 20 externally threaded to engage the threads 15 within thehousing. An annular recess 21, of semi-circular cross section is formedin the lower surface of flange or collar 19 adjacent the upper outeredge of iange 20, from which extends inwardly a second tapered recess 22above the threaded portion of collar 20. A ring of suitable gasketmaterial 23, preferably a rubber composition, ,is inserted withv inrecess 21 and when the closure 18 is screwed into the housing the sharpupper edge porti0n17 of the housing will engage within this gasketmaterial, the surplus material being tion 15, the housing 1 is providedwith an internally projecting annular shoulder or collar 24 providedwith an upper flat machined surface 25 rom which the removablethermostatic valve assembly, now about to be described, is freelysupported. This thermostatic valve assembly comprises, among otherparts, the expansible thermostatic disk indicated generally at 26, thevalve 14 adjustably supported from the lower surface of this disk, theabutment cap 27 adapted t0 engage at times with the inner surface ofclosure'- 18, and the supporting plate or spider 28 which rests upon theshoulder 24 in order to normally support the valve assembly within thehousing.

The disk 26, as is usual in such constructions, comprises flexible topand bottom walls j with central openings 32 and 33 respectively' forpurposes hereinafter referred to and are each circularly corrugated asindicated at 34 to increase their flexibility. The upper plate memberis'downwardly concaved as indicated at 35 and the lower plate member 31is correspondingly upwardly concaved as indicated at 36 so that when thetwo plate members are fitted togetherV they will inclose the centralchamber 29 for holding the volatile fluid. The upper flexible plate 30is pro- 9 vided with a reversely bent outer edge portion 37 adapted topartially inclose an upper annular recess 38. The lower iiexible plate31 has a reversely curved edge portion 39 i adapted to fit about thelower portion'of the curved edge portion 30 of the upper plate, and anupwardly projecting annular ange 40 which iscrimped over the upper edgeof the curved edge portion 37 of the upper plate. The reinforcing ring41 (partially shown in Fig. 5) comprises a curved portion 42 ada ted totit about one side of the assembled e ge flanges 37 and 39, and anupstanding annular flange 43 which is adapted to be crimped over theother side portions of the flanges 37 and 39, all as indicated inFig. 1. When these edge portions of the disk-plates are joined, they areirst tinned and then the flanges are folded over one another andsoldered. Subsequent to this ,the reinforcin ring 41 is curled over theedge portions o the plates and soldered in place. Preferably the solderwill enter the annular recess 38 as indicated at 44 in Fi 1' thusforming a liller so as to prevent t e curled edge portions 37 and 39from being attened down which would tend to break or weaken the metal.It is desirable that no flatly folded portions be formed in either ofthe edge portions 37I or 39 or the reinforcing ring 41 but that thesemembers be continuously curled over one another as indicated in Fig. 1.

The valve ho der 45 (see Fig. 7) comprises a central outwardlyprojecting collar 46 from which projects upwardly a threaded stud 47,

and downwardly a longer threaded stud or stem 48.Y Before the diskplates 30 and 31 are Aassembled with one another, the valve holder 45 isattached to thelower plate 31 to form a surface where there is anegligible thickness of'solder so that the surfaces are joined togethermore by the solvent action of the solder oing intosolution with themetal portions og the plate, nuts and valve holder rather than throughthe film of solder itself. It is well understood that this gives asuperior form of joint as far as strength is concerned.

The filling nozzlemember (see Fig. 6) comprises, like the valve holder45, a central outwardly projecting flange or collar 51, a downwardlyprojecting'threaded stud 52 and an upwardly projecting threaded stud 53.A central filling passage 54 extends concentrically through the twostuds 52 and 53. The filling nozzle 50 is assembled with the upperflexible plate 30 in a manner similar to that described for the lowerplate and the valve holder, by inserting the downwardly projecting stud52 through the central opening 32 inplate 30 and then screwing andsoldering in place one of the locking nuts 49. After theV valve holder45and filling nozzle 50 have been assembled with the respective plates31 and 30 as kjust described, the disk-plates 30 and 31 are securedtogether at their outer edges and the reinforcing ring 41 attached, allas described hereinabove.' The natural elasticity of the plate memberswill now -be such as to hold' the two inwardly projecting studs 47 and52 in engagement with one another, asillustrated in F ig. 1, thuslimiting the collapsin movement of the disk member. A filler-ring '0, asusual in such devices, also prevents excessive collapsing of theflexible walls of the disk. The thermostatic liquid is now poured inthrough the iillingpassage 54,

47 are in contact.

a notch 55 being provided in the lower end of stem or disk.52 to permitthis liquid to flow into chamber 29 when thestuds 52 and The disk isthen sealed under a vacuum by placing the plug 56 in the passage 54and'soldering the plug in place as indicated at 57 so as-to hermeticallyseal the volatile liquid within the container.

The supporting plate or spider 28 is formed with a central aperture 58adapted to fit about the stud 53 of the filling nozzle against the uppersurface of flange or collar 51. The abutment cap 27 is internallythreaded at 59 to screw onto the upper end portion of stud 58 and clampthe supporting plate 28 in place on the valve assembly. The supportingplate 28 is pref/erably provided with a plurality of passages 60 toperlnit free flow of steam therethrough, and at its outer edgel isprovided with a plurality of spaced apart downwardly and outwardlyprojecting fingers 61 adapted to rest on the supporting surface 25 ofshoulder 24.- Theselingers reduce the friction and permit the plate toshift its position readily within the housing.'

The top of abutment cap 27 is preferably formed with an vupwardly curvedspherical surface 62 adapted to engage with the lower surface of anabutment 63 whichvprojects downwardly centrally from the closure member18. 'Preferably this boss or abutment 63 is centrally counter-bored asindicated at 64 to prevent any central projecting portion of metalresulting from the machining opera- -tion and at the same time toprovide an annular surface with which the upper spherical e vsurface 62of cap 27 may contact thus facilitating the self-alignment of theseparts. Normally -a slight clearance will exist between the abutment cap27 and the boss 63.

when the valve assembly is contracted and supported from shoulder 24\bythe supporting plate or spider 28. When the disk eX- pands and the Valveis closed the upwardl l vertical thrust will be taken by the cap 27moving into engagement with the b/oss 63 and the machined surfaces ofthese members as already described, are so formed as to secure a propel`alignment of the members and insure a proper seating of the'valve 14 inthe valve seat 13.

The valve member 14 is exteriorly conical as already described, and isformed with a central internally threaded cylindrical passage 65 adaptedto screw onto the stem or stud 48 of the valve holder with capacity forvertical adjustment. A lock nut 66 threaded on is then set at the properposition on stem 48 to insure the proper movement and positioning of thevalve when subjected to the temperature conditions existing in the trap.These valve assemblies, when ordered for repair parts, are filled,tested and shipped out as an assembly, ready for inserting in the'v-alve housing by merely removing the closure 18 and then dropping theassembly into position so that supporting plate 28 rests on the shoulder24. -The closure 18 is then screwed into place and the trap is ready forservice.

The valve assembly'is normally collapsed, or in the relative position ofparts shown in Fig. 1, when-separated from the housing or when the traphousing is not filled with steam or subjected to high temperatures. Inoperation, after the condensate `and air have drained or been withdrawnfrom the trap, the

chamber 2will fill with steam and the thermostatic disk will immediatelyexpand. This movement will first be downward since the assembly issuspended from the shoulder 24, soas' tomove the conical valve member 14downwardly into the seat 13 after which the upward thrust will be takenby a movement of cap member 27 upwardly into engagement with boss 63.This will tend tolift the spider collapse so as to. again lift the valve1 4 from 28 from the collar 24 or at least relieve the downward pressureof the assembly on this collar so that the parts can easily adjustthemselves to secure a proper seating of the valve member in the valveseat. When the chamber 2 again ills with condensate or air, the disk 26will be .cooled and will contract or its scat, whereupon the assemblywill again be suspended or hung from the annularcollar 24 by means ofthe supporting plate or spider static assemblies are entirelyinterchangeable and suliicient lateral shifting is permitted to readilypermit proper valve alignment. The supporting plate'28 merely serves asa suspending member when the valve is open or not in operation and doesnot take any part of the thrust when the valve is closed. However, whenthe disk contracts to lift or open the valve the thrust of lifting thevalveagainstthe pressure within chamber 2 is taken by the ledge 25through spider 28. No springs or other resilient members are necessaryfor holding the valve in place or moving the valve into closed position,all of this movement being provided for by the resiliency of thethermostatic disk itself. i

I claim:

l. A thermostatietrap comprising a closed housing having an outletpassage in the bottom thereof, and having a. constantly open inletpassage positioned out of alignment with the outlet,'a valve seat in theoutlet passage, a thrust-receiving member in the top of the `imusing inalignment with the valve seat, a thermostatic assembly comprising anexpansible disk and a valve carriedby the lower face thereof, and meansfor loosely suspending said assembly inthe housing between the valveseat and thrust member but normally out of engagement with either.

2. A thermostatic trap comprising a closed housing having an outletpassage in the bottom thereof, and having a constantly open in letpassage positioned out of alignment with the outlet, a valve seat in theoutlet passage, a thrust-receiving member in the top of the housing inalignment with the valve seat, a thermostatic assembly comprising anexpansible disk, a valve carried by the lower face thereofand a thrustmember carried by the' sage, a. thrust-receiving member in the top ofthe housing i'n alignment with the valve seat, a. thermostatic assemblycomprising an expansible disk, a valve carried by the lower face thereofand a thrust` member carried by the upper face of the disk, the twothrust members being formed with self-aligning surfaces adapted formutual engagement, and means for loosely suspending the assembly withinthe housing with the valve normally above but out of engagement with thevalve seat andthe thrust members in alignment and closely adjacent oneanother but normally out of engagement.

4. A thermostatic trap comprising a closed housing having an outletpassage in the bottom thereof, and having a constantly open inletpassage positioned out of alignment with the outlet, a valve seat in theoutlet passage, a thrust-receiving member in the top of the housing inalignment with the valve seat, a thermostaticassembly comprising aneXpansible disk, a valve carried by the lower face thereof and a thrustmember carried by the upper face of the disk, said assembly thrusting inopposite directions against and being supported entirely between saidupper abutment and said valve seat when the disk is expanded, and asupporting member attached to the upper portion of the thermostaticassembly and freely resting on a portion of the housing v`for suspendingsaid assembly between the valve seat and upper abutment but out ofengagement with either when the diskis contracted.

5. A. thermostatic trap comprising a main housing member having aconstantly open inlet and an outlet, a valve seat in the outlet, anannular shoulder in the housing substantially coaxial with the outlet,an expansible thermostatic disk, a supporting plate attached to the diskand adapted to rest on the shoulder with freedom for limited lateralmovement, a valve carried by one side of the disk coaxially with the.valve seat, and an abutment carried by the opposite face of the of thehousing, the upper end of the housing v being open, a closure cap havingthreaded engagement withthe open top of the housing, an annular shoulderin the housing between the opening and outlet passage', a valve seat inthe outlet, an expansible thermostatic disk, a supporting plate attachedto the top of thedisk and resting on the shoulder with freedom forlimited vlateral movement, a valve carried by the lower face of the diskfor engagement with the valve seat, and an abutment capon the top of thediskwhich is moved into engagement with the lower face v ofthe closuremember after the expansion of the disk has seated the valve.

7. A thermostatio trap comprising a main housing member having an inletin one side thereof and an outletvpassage in the ybottom of the housing,the upper end of the housing being open, a closure cap having threadedengagement with the open top of the housing, an annular shoulder in thehousing between the opening and outlet passage, a valve seat in theoutlet, an expansible thermostatie disk, a supporting plate attached tothe top of the disk and resting on the shoulder with freedom for limitedlateral movement, a valve vertically adjustable on the lower face of thedisk and adapted to cooperate with the valve seat to close the outletpassage when the'disk expands, and an abutment cap on the top of thedisk which is moved into engagement with the lower face of the closuremember after the expansion of the disk has seated the valve.

8. A thermostatic trap comprising a main housing member having an inletin onejside thereof and an outlet passage in the bottom of the housing,the upper end of the housing being open, a closure cap having` threadeden gagement with the open top ot the housing, an annular shoulder in thehousing between the opening and outlet passage, a valve seat in theoutlet, an expansible thermostatie disk, a supporting late attached tothe top of the disk and resting on the shoulder with freedom for limitedlateral movement, there being a centering abutment extending inwardlyfrom the closure, a valve carried by the lower face of the disk forengagement with the valve seat, and an abutment cap on the upper face ofthe disk which is moved into engagement with the centering abutmentafter the expansion of the disk has seated the valve;

9. A thermostatic trap comprising a main housing member having an inletin one side thereof and an outlet passage in the bottom of the housing,the upper end of the housingl being open, a closure cap having threadedengagement with the open top of the housing, an annular shoulder in thehousing between the opening and outlet passage', a valve seat in theoutlet, an expansible thermostatie disk, a supporting plate attached tothe top of the disk and resting on the shoulder with freedom for limitedlateral movement, there being a centering abutment extending inwardlyfrom the closure, a valve vertically adjustable on the lower face of thedisk and adapted to cooperate with the valve seat to close the valvewhen the disk expands, and an abutment cap on the upper face of the diskwhich is moved into engagement with the centering abutment when theexpansion of the disk has seated the valve. l

l l0. A thermostatic trap comprising a main housing member having aninlet passage in one side thereof and having an outlet passagev in thebottom thereof, a valve seat in the outlet passage, the upper end of thehousing being open, a closure cap having threaded engagement with theopen top of the housing, an assembly comprising an expansible disk andavalve carried by the lower face of the disk and adapted to engage thevalve seat to close the outlet passage, m'eans for looselysupporting'the assembly from the4 walls of the housing with the valveabove the valve seat and so that the disk may move freely in thehousing, and self-aligning members on n in the bottom thereof, a valveseat in the outlet passage, the upper end of the. housing being open, aclosure cap having threadedengagement with the open top of the housing,an annular shoulder in the housing, an assembly comprising an expansibledisk, a sup'` porting plate attached to the upper'face of the disk andadapted to rest freely on the shoulder in the housing and a valvecarried by the lower face of the .disk and adapted to engage the valveseat to close the outlet passage, and self-aligning thrust members inthe top of the disk and lower face of the closure which are normallyunengaged' but are adapted to be engaged after the expansion of the diskhas seated' the valve. V

12. A thermostatie trap comprising a main housing member having an inletpassage in one side thereof and having an outlet passage and adapted torest freely on the shoulder' in the housing and a valve Icarried by thelower face of the disk and adapted to engage the valve seat to close theoutlet passage, and selfaligning thrust members on the top of the diskand lower face of the closure which are normally unengaged but areadapted to en age after the expansion of the disk has seate the valve,at which time the pressure of the supporting plate on the annularshoulder will be relieved.

13. In a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk comprising a pair of concavedcircular plates positioned with their concave sides opposed to oneanother, the edge portions of one plate being reversely curved to form ahollow bead- A portions and ring being soldered, the solder i ed edge,the edge portion ofthe other disk being inwardly curved to fit about thebeaded edge, and a clamping ring of curved lcrosssection enclosing saidoverlapped edge portions.

14.1n a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk comprising a pair of concavedcircular plates positioned with their concave sides opposed to oneanother, the edge portions of one plate being reversely curved to form ahollow beaded edge, the edge portion of the other disk being inwardlycurved to fit about the beaded edge, and a clamping ring of curvedcross-section enclosing said overlapped edge portions, the overlappedsurfaces ofthe edge also lforming a filler within the beaded edge. i5.En a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk 4 comprising a pair of concavedcircular plates positioned with their concave sides opposed to oneanother, means for securing the edges of the plates together, therebeing a central opening in each plate, a valve-holder and a `iillingnozzle each formed with a central annular coilar from which threadedstuds project in -aiignment in each direction, the inwardiy projectingstuds-extending through the plate openings, lock nuts positioned on thestuds within the disk, a valve member and a lock nut adjustably threadedon ,the outwardiy projecting stud of the valve-holder, the nozzle-memberbeing formed with a. filling opening extending axially through thestuds,

a plug sealed in the opening, and a cap nut P vthreaded on the outerstud of the nozzle member.

16. in a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk comprising a pair of concavedcircular plates adjustably threaded on the outwardly projecting stud ofthe valve-holder, the nozzle member being formed with a filling openingextending axially through the studs, a plug sealed in the opening, and acap nut threaded vwardly projecting studs extending through the plateopenings, lock nuts positioned on the studs within the disk, a valvemember and a lock nut adjustably threaded on the outwardly projectingstud of the valve-holder, the nozzle member being formed with a fillingopening extending axially through the studs, a plug sealed in theopening, an annular supporting plate i'tted over the outer stud of thenozzle member, and a cap nut threaded on the outer stud and holding thesupporting plate thereon. f

18. In a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk comprising a pair of concavedcircular plates positioned with their concave sides opposed to oneanother, means for securing the edges of the plates together, therebeing4 a central opening in each plate, a valve-holder and a fillingnozzle each formed with a central annular collar from which threaded'studs project in alignment in each direction, the inwardly projectingstuds extending through the plate openings, lock nuts positioned on thestuds within the disk, a valve member and a lock nut adjustably threadedon the outwardly projecting stud of the valve-holder, the nozzle memberbeing formed with a filling opening extending axially through the studs,a plug sealed inthe opening, an annular supporting plate fitted over theouter stud of the nozzle member and provided with a circular series ofoutwardly projecting supporting lingers, and a cap nut threaded on theouter stud and holding thesupporting late thereon.

FERDINAND EDWARD SCHMIDT.-

positioned with their concave sides opposed to one another, means forsecuring the edges of the plates together, there being a central openingin each plate, a valve-holder and a filling nozzle each formed with acentral annular collar from which threaded studs project in alignment ineach direction, the inwardly projecting studs extending through theplate openings, lockI nuts positioned on the studs within the disk, adownwardly pro-` jecting conical valve member and a lock nut v mav uit

